Yu Xin () (513-581) was a Chinese poet, politician, and writer of the
Liang and
Northern Zhou
Zhou (), known in historiography as the Northern Zhou (), was a Xianbei-led dynasty of China that lasted from 557 to 581. One of the Northern dynasties of China's Northern and Southern dynasties period, it succeeded the Western Wei dynasty and ...
dynasties of medieval China. Yu Xin was one of the founders of the Xu-Yu literary style together with
Xu Ling
Xu Ling () (507–583) was the compiler and editor of the famous poetry anthology ''New Songs from the Jade Terrace''http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Poetry/yutaixinyong.html Theobald, Ulrich. CHINAKNOWLEDGEuly July 3, 2010, accessed 14 ...
, and the author of a famous
fu. His
courtesy name
A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...
was Zǐshān (), and he was known as Yu Shin in Japan.
['' Kanjigen'' entry "Yu Xin" (''Yu Shin'' in Japanese). ]Gakken
is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1947 by Hideto Furuoka, which also produces educational toys. Their annual sales is reported at ¥ 90 billion ($789 million US).
Gakken publishes educational books and magazines and produces other ...
2006.
Life
Yu Xin was born and raised in
Jiangling, which was once
the capital of Chu. His family was wealthy and aristocratic, and Yu became an important official of the Liang dynasty. As such, he served as the lover and patron of aspiring statesman Wang Shao.
[Hinsch, Bret. (1990). ''Passions of the Cut Sleeve''. University of California. pp. 69-70]
In 554, Yu Xin was sent as an ambassador to the
Western Wei
Wei (), known in historiography as the Western Wei (), was an imperial dynasty of China that followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei. One of the Northern dynasties during the era of the Northern and Southern dynasties, it ruled the weste ...
in
Chang'an
Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin Shi ...
, a mission that did not meet with success. On the way to his mission, he visited Wang Shao, now an official censor, who rejected further advances.
After the fall of the
Liang dynasty
The Liang dynasty (), alternatively known as the Southern Liang () in historiography, was an imperial dynasty of China and the third of the four Southern dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. It was preceded by the South ...
in 557, three of his children that remained in the Liang capital were executed. Yu was held in Chang'an for the rest of his life.
Works
Along with the poet and official
Xu Ling
Xu Ling () (507–583) was the compiler and editor of the famous poetry anthology ''New Songs from the Jade Terrace''http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Poetry/yutaixinyong.html Theobald, Ulrich. CHINAKNOWLEDGEuly July 3, 2010, accessed 14 ...
and the fathers of both men, Yu is known for the Xu-Yu Style (), which was known as "fancy and alluring".
Perhaps his most famous poem is ''The Lament for the South'' (), which
James Hightower has described as the highest development of the ''
fu'' form of poetry.
A translation of this poem can be found in:
* .
See also
*
Classical Chinese poetry
Classical Chinese poetry is traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese and typified by certain traditional forms, or modes; traditional genres; and connections with particular historical periods, such as the poetry of the Tang dyn ...
*
Six Dynasties poetry
Six Dynasties poetry refers to those types or styles of poetry particularly associated with the Six Dynasties era of China (220 CE – 589 CE). This poetry reflects one of the poetry world's more important flowerings, as well as being a u ...
*
Xiaoxiang poetry
Xiaoxiang poetry is one of the Classical Chinese poetry genres, one which has been practiced for over a thousand years. It is a poetry of scenic wonders, a poetry of officials exiled for their views and beliefs, and a poetry of dissent against sub ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yu, Xin
6th-century Chinese poets
6th-century Chinese writers
Liang dynasty poets
Liang dynasty government officials
Male poets
Northern Zhou people
Northern Zhou poets
Poets from Hubei
Politicians from Jingzhou